Eastern Angora Goat and Mohair Association is a very new name for our association. Until just recently we have always been known as VAGMA for Virginia Angora Goat and Mohair Association. The primary reason for the original name and the subsequent name change has been regional participation.
We began in Virginia; and we have now grown so significantly, we thought the new name more relevant and reflective of our current membership. VAGMA was formed in 1987 by a small group of breeders in Nelson County and remained a largely central and western Virginia membership for the first ten years or so.
It added to its membership when original members attended local fairs and festivals with Angora goats and promoted them effectively. The mohair was mainly sold to hand-spinners very locally in the beginning. Eventually members began to pool their hair and send it to Texas. It started somewhat serendipitously when a member with a truck planned to make the trip to purchase some fine Texas goats.
In 1992, VAGMA held its first annual Angora Goat Show at the Rockbridge County Fair in Lexington. The show was held there for four consecutive years, then moved to the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg for several years and then to the Nelson County Fair at Oak Ridge. Sometimes the move was to increase VAGMA’s profile, but on one occasion it was for the simple fact that the vendors were consistently hot and uncomfortable at the location. For the last four years, VAGMA has been showing at the Greenbrier County Fairgrounds, in Lewisburg, West Virginia. It is a lovely and cool location in June in the woodsy greenery of the Shenandoah Mountains.
In 1995, VAGMA was incorporated and in 1997 the association earned its 501-C-(5) status. In 1997, the official VAGMA website came online. A new and updated website is due this year, 2009. Currently the membership has grown to include 14 states, from Maine to Georgia and west to Kentucky. The popularity of the beautiful and useful Angora & Colored Angora goat continues to grow along with its representation of breeders.
Historical Contributers:
